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Betting help for USC vs Texas A&M

Hi, I am a University of South Carolina graduate and love Gamecock football. I will be in Vegas for the season opener this Thursday. I plan on watching the game from a sports book either downtown or on the strip. I have never put money on a game and honestly do not know how the betting actually works. I don't plan to bet any more than $100 but I want to put money on USC winning. If you could give me some suggestions on the best place to watch the game and what bet should I make. I have tried reading up on sports betting online but I could use some more help. Thanks in advance! ~Jen

There are lots of first timers at the sports book, ask the teller for $100 to win on SC or Gamecocks (not USC) and they will help you out. Based on the current line, the Gamecocks (best team name BTW) are a 10.5 favorite so they need to win by 11 or more for you to have a winning bet.

Jen, I think you guys can narrowly cover this. I really do. A&M should still have a powerful offense, but they lost a few starters from an already moribund defense, and you guys should be able to light them up a little bit. I could see you giving the 10.5 and winning the game along the lines of 34-21.

If you just want to bet them to win (by how much doesn't matter), just tell then you want South Carolina money line. It sounds like they're the favorite, so your $100 bet will only win you something like $40.

Betting the spread means that your team (assuming they're the favorite) needs to win by at least that many points. Someone mentioned 10.5 above , so that means they would need to win by at least 11 points for you to win the bet. So if the score is 30-25, even though they won, you would lose the bet since they only won by 5.

For a beginner/someone who just wants to root for their team to win, just bet the money line even though you would win less

The confusion over USC and which is which is why they have the four digit number by each team. You walk up to the window and say " I want to bet 100 $ on 3456 (or whatever USC is--which is discovered by looking at the betting sheets or on the illuminated board showing the games) and that is it....they have to win by the spread (points). Or "I want to bet 1-- $ on 3456 money line" which is to simply win outright.

The reason for the numbers is that is how the clerk puts in the bet and if she/he had to look at a cheat sheet or turn around for each bet to get the number, it would take forever. As it is it only takes what SEEMS forever. Try to get there early when it is least crowded and easier to navigate. One thing to do is say bet on 3456 and as they type say "That's THE usc, right?" and the clerk will say what team 3456 is.....fewer mistakes that way. GOOD LUCK!!

The ticket writers in books are cool and just tell them that it is your first time and that you want to bet on South Carolina to win.

When you bet to win you're betting on the "money line".

I just looked at this line on one of the off-shore books and they have South Carolina as a heavy favorite (-400). That means you'd have to wager $400 to win $100. The odds in Vegas will probably be a bit better but I don't see any Vegas books who have a money line set yet.

You can also bet on the point spread which Wynn's book has South Carolina a 10-1/2 point favorite. If you bet this option the Gamecocks would have to beat Texas A&M by 11 points or more for you to win your bet. This pays better than the money line bet. Usually you'd have to bet $110 and you'd win $100. That extra $10 you have to bet is the "vig" aka "juice". If you win then you get that back too (you'd be paid $210...your initial $110 bet and then your winnings of $100).

I know this makes it sound more confusing so sorry if I confused you....

Jen, I think you guys can narrowly cover this. I really do. A&M should still have a powerful offense, but they lost a few starters from an already moribund defense, and you guys should be able to light them up a little bit. I could see you giving the 10.5 and winning the game along the lines of 34-21.

Hi, I am a University of South Carolina graduate and love Gamecock football. I will be in Vegas for the season opener this Thursday. I plan on watching the game from a sports book either downtown or on the strip. I have never put money on a game and honestly do not know how the betting actually works. I don't plan to bet any more than $100 but I want to put money on USC winning. If you could give me some suggestions on the best place to watch the game and what bet should I make. I have tried reading up on sports betting online but I could use some more help. Thanks in advance! ~Jen

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Ughhhhh... I went down with you! Old ball coach's team stunk it up tonight!